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Author Topic:   Torque Wrench Recommendations

Newtauk1 posted 11-13-2007 08:50 PM ET (US)
I seem to be running into more things on my motor that requires a torque wrench. I have the inexpensive bar torque wrench and think its time to upgrade. Any suggestions from the group on what brand and features to look for. I will be using it primarily on my outboard and auto(s).
Thanks, NT1
Newtauk1 posted 11-13-2007 08:55 PM ET (US)
my current wrench is a beam bar type. $29.99 at Sears.
A2J15Sport posted 11-13-2007 08:58 PM ET (US)
I have a mixture of: Snap On, Mac and Craftsman.
I like the Craftsman torque wrenches best.
I have three. One for inch pounds (delicate)-Craftsman. One for average, Snap On and My Mac is for big stuff-150 lb. ft.-plus.
Craftsman is fine, for me. I prefer dials over "click".
contender posted 11-13-2007 09:02 PM ET (US)
I like the click type have both craftsman and snap on, do not have to look at dial when using the wrench...good luck
A2J15Sport posted 11-13-2007 09:05 PM ET (US)
"Looking" is not over-rated. "Click" types are shown to be inaccurate.
I'd rather trust my eyes/feel than a "click".
There is an old saying:
"TORQUE IT TILL IT BREAKS AND THEN BACK OFF A QUARTER TURN".
Bella con23 posted 11-13-2007 10:24 PM ET (US)
I too have the beam bar type torque wrenches in both inch and foot pound. I have been using them for about thirty years, and have never had to blame them for any faults.
I think torque technique is more important then "dialing it in" to exact specs.
Joe
Chuck Tribolet posted 11-13-2007 11:39 PM ET (US)
Be sure to check the range of torques you need to deal with.
I've found that I need two, one low range (up to about 20 or
30 foot pounds) and one mid range (20 to 100 foot pounds).

Chuck
Newtauk1 posted 11-14-2007 12:26 AM ET (US)
Thanks all. The beam works fine, it just is not practical for some tight spaces.
jdoe03 posted 11-14-2007 09:54 AM ET (US)
Tourqe wrenches also will lose accuracy after years of being bumped around and dropped...They should be sent out and recertified periodically if there is any doubt of accuracy.
JD
A2J15Sport posted 11-14-2007 08:29 PM ET (US)
"Tourqe wrenches also will lose accuracy after years of being bumped around and dropped...They should be sent out and recertified periodically if there is any doubt of accuracy.
JD"
Agreed. My local Snap On guy will calibrate my Craftsman's/Mac's too.
He's a great tool vendor. I'm lucky. I keep him in business by buying some really neat tools he has to offer.
HAPPYJIM posted 11-16-2007 03:30 PM ET (US)
I've had a beam type for more than 40 years of torquing just about everything that I repair. I trust it more than the click types and I have several of the clickers. The beam is a Craftsman. All of my clickers came from Harbor Freight.
Chuck Tribolet posted 11-16-2007 05:57 PM ET (US)
Is that a "trust beam over clicker" message,
or "trust Craftsman over Harbor Freight"?

Chuck
highanddry posted 11-16-2007 07:28 PM ET (US)
I actually am a professional mechanic and I work on turbine engines from time to time. The beam type are good for holding a stretch torque but I prefer a click type for general work. Thing is you need about three wrenches, 40-200 in/lb, 75-250 ft/lb etc.
I much, much, much prefer SnapOn. A inch pound wrench should be a 1/4 drive BTW, not that silly 3/8 honker Crapman sells.
contender posted 11-16-2007 08:27 PM ET (US)
Harbor Freight= Garbage Freight, you get what you pay for, I use my clickers and replace them in the box they come with, I also have them checked/recertified about every two years...good luck
HAPPYJIM posted 11-18-2007 04:02 PM ET (US)
Harbor Freight torque wrenches are just fine for the type of use that I need. Now if I ran a repair shop, I would be using the Snap-on's. The cash that I save is used for gas for my Whaler and more bullets.
Treypescatorie posted 11-19-2007 04:18 PM ET (US)
I have to concur with harbor freight. There torque wrenches are pretty good quality. I have no problem using them on my boat or car. If I was torquing something on the space shuttle I would use a precision tool.
Steve Leone posted 11-21-2007 10:27 AM ET (US)
I use the Sears clicker. I have always had my suspicions about torque wrenches in general. I believe that they are all ballpark. There are variances to take into account. Uneven surfaces, slight variations in thread pitch or thread / stock condition. Castings are never perfect.
Ferryman posted 11-21-2007 12:20 PM ET (US)
Well for what it is worth I have built a number of racing engines, and all of my torque wrenches are of the clicker variety (Britool).
I have never had a failure due to under or over torqued bolts.
The one thing I do religously is back off the spring after use each and every time.
I also send them for re-calibration every 2 years to a NAMAS certified lab.

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Author	Topic: Torque Wrench Recommendations
Newtauk1	posted 11-13-2007 08:50 PM ET (US) I seem to be running into more things on my motor that requires a torque wrench. I have the inexpensive bar torque wrench and think its time to upgrade. Any suggestions from the group on what brand and features to look for. I will be using it primarily on my outboard and auto(s). Thanks, NT1
Newtauk1	posted 11-13-2007 08:55 PM ET (US) my current wrench is a beam bar type. $29.99 at Sears.
A2J15Sport	posted 11-13-2007 08:58 PM ET (US) I have a mixture of: Snap On, Mac and Craftsman. I like the Craftsman torque wrenches best. I have three. One for inch pounds (delicate)-Craftsman. One for average, Snap On and My Mac is for big stuff-150 lb. ft.-plus. Craftsman is fine, for me. I prefer dials over "click".
contender	posted 11-13-2007 09:02 PM ET (US) I like the click type have both craftsman and snap on, do not have to look at dial when using the wrench...good luck
A2J15Sport	posted 11-13-2007 09:05 PM ET (US) "Looking" is not over-rated. "Click" types are shown to be inaccurate. I'd rather trust my eyes/feel than a "click". There is an old saying: "TORQUE IT TILL IT BREAKS AND THEN BACK OFF A QUARTER TURN".
Bella con23	posted 11-13-2007 10:24 PM ET (US) I too have the beam bar type torque wrenches in both inch and foot pound. I have been using them for about thirty years, and have never had to blame them for any faults. I think torque technique is more important then "dialing it in" to exact specs. Joe
Chuck Tribolet	posted 11-13-2007 11:39 PM ET (US) Be sure to check the range of torques you need to deal with. I've found that I need two, one low range (up to about 20 or 30 foot pounds) and one mid range (20 to 100 foot pounds). Chuck
Newtauk1	posted 11-14-2007 12:26 AM ET (US) Thanks all. The beam works fine, it just is not practical for some tight spaces.
jdoe03	posted 11-14-2007 09:54 AM ET (US) Tourqe wrenches also will lose accuracy after years of being bumped around and dropped...They should be sent out and recertified periodically if there is any doubt of accuracy. JD
A2J15Sport	posted 11-14-2007 08:29 PM ET (US) "Tourqe wrenches also will lose accuracy after years of being bumped around and dropped...They should be sent out and recertified periodically if there is any doubt of accuracy. JD" Agreed. My local Snap On guy will calibrate my Craftsman's/Mac's too. He's a great tool vendor. I'm lucky. I keep him in business by buying some really neat tools he has to offer.
HAPPYJIM	posted 11-16-2007 03:30 PM ET (US) I've had a beam type for more than 40 years of torquing just about everything that I repair. I trust it more than the click types and I have several of the clickers. The beam is a Craftsman. All of my clickers came from Harbor Freight.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 11-16-2007 05:57 PM ET (US) Is that a "trust beam over clicker" message, or "trust Craftsman over Harbor Freight"? Chuck
highanddry	posted 11-16-2007 07:28 PM ET (US) I actually am a professional mechanic and I work on turbine engines from time to time. The beam type are good for holding a stretch torque but I prefer a click type for general work. Thing is you need about three wrenches, 40-200 in/lb, 75-250 ft/lb etc. I much, much, much prefer SnapOn. A inch pound wrench should be a 1/4 drive BTW, not that silly 3/8 honker Crapman sells.
contender	posted 11-16-2007 08:27 PM ET (US) Harbor Freight= Garbage Freight, you get what you pay for, I use my clickers and replace them in the box they come with, I also have them checked/recertified about every two years...good luck
HAPPYJIM	posted 11-18-2007 04:02 PM ET (US) Harbor Freight torque wrenches are just fine for the type of use that I need. Now if I ran a repair shop, I would be using the Snap-on's. The cash that I save is used for gas for my Whaler and more bullets.
Treypescatorie	posted 11-19-2007 04:18 PM ET (US) I have to concur with harbor freight. There torque wrenches are pretty good quality. I have no problem using them on my boat or car. If I was torquing something on the space shuttle I would use a precision tool.
Steve Leone	posted 11-21-2007 10:27 AM ET (US) I use the Sears clicker. I have always had my suspicions about torque wrenches in general. I believe that they are all ballpark. There are variances to take into account. Uneven surfaces, slight variations in thread pitch or thread / stock condition. Castings are never perfect.
Ferryman	posted 11-21-2007 12:20 PM ET (US) Well for what it is worth I have built a number of racing engines, and all of my torque wrenches are of the clicker variety (Britool). I have never had a failure due to under or over torqued bolts. The one thing I do religously is back off the spring after use each and every time. I also send them for re-calibration every 2 years to a NAMAS certified lab.